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This article examines how the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) affects Cross-Border M&As (CMAs) inflows to countries along the Belt and Road routes (BRI countries) from non-BRI countries. We conduct a difference-in-differences estimation with a control group constructed through propensity score matching. We find that the BRI significantly reduces CMAs from non-BRI countries to BRI countries. The results are robust to various concerns and specifications. We uncover two important mechanisms driving the results: the increased CMAs within BRI countries and the potential debt risks. We also find heterogeneous effects across countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT Antibiotic resistance poses a significant public health threat worldwide. The rise in antibiotic resistance and the sharp decline in effective antibiotics necessitate the development of innovative antibacterial agents. Based on the central symmetric structure of glycine–serine–glycine, combined with tryptophan and arginine, we designed a range of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) that exhibited broad-spectrum antibacterial activity. Notably, AMP W5 demonstrated a rapid and effective sterilization against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), displaying both a minimum inhibitory concentration and a minimum bactericidal concentration of 8 µM. Mechanistic studies revealed that AMP W5 killed bacterial cells by disrupting the cytoplasmic membrane integrity, triggering leakage of cell contents. AMP W5 also exhibited excellent biocompatibility in both in vitro and in vivo safety evaluations. AMP W5 treatment significantly reduced skin bacterial load in our murine skin infection model. In conclusion, we designed a novel centrosymmetric AMP representing a promising medical alternative to conventional antibiotics for treating MRSA infections.IMPORTANCEIncreasing antibiotic resistance and the paucity of effective antibiotics necessitate innovative antibacterial agents. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a major pathogen causing bacterial infections with high incidence and mortality rates, showing increasing resistance to clinical drugs. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) exhibit significant potential as alternatives to traditional antibiotics. This study designed a novel series of AMPs, characterized by a glycine–serine–glycine-centered symmetrical structure, and our results indicated that AMP W5 exhibited a rapid and effective bactericidal effect against MRSA. AMP W5 also demonstrated excellent biocompatibility and a bactericidal mechanism that disrupted membrane integrity, leading to leakage of cellular contents. The notable reduction in skin bacterial load observed in mouse models reinforced the clinical applicability of AMP W5. This study provides a promising solution for addressing the increasing threat of antibiotic-resistant bacteria and heralds new prospects for clinical applications.

Abstract Aims The current management of patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) and concomitant heart failure (HF) remains a significant challenge. Catheter ablation (CA) has been shown to improve left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) in these patients, but which patients can benefit from CA is still poorly understood. The aim of our study was to determine the predictors of improved ejection fraction in patients with persistent atrial fibrillation (PeAF) complicated with HF undergoing CA. Methods and results A total of 435 patients with persistent AF underwent an initial CA between January 2019 and March 2023 in our hospital. We investigated consecutive patients with left ventricular systolic dysfunction (LVEF

ABSTRACTUrban vertical features are crucial for understanding urban morphology. However, long-term information on three-dimensional buildings, which are important fundamental data for studying on the historical urbanization processes, remains scarce in China. In this study, we proposed a Random Forest model to generate an annual 1-km resolution building volume dataset covering mainland China from 2001 to 2019, by integrating the nighttime light data, population demographics, electricity consumption records, carbon dioxide emissions data, and various optical and statistical datasets. This new building volume data are highly consistent with that derived from Baidu Maps on 1-km scale, with Pearson’s correlation coefficient (R) of 0.847, root mean square error (RMSE) of 9.17 × 105 m3/km2 and mean absolute error (MAE) of 5.86 × 105 m3/km2. Notably, cross-validation indicate that the blooming problem was greatly improved when compared with previous model-based building three-dimensional data. The proposed method holds significant advantages, benefiting form low-cost implementation based on free open-source data and providing extendable algorithm to estimate the 3D shape of cities in the future. The time-series historical building volume data offer comprehensive insights into the historical development of urban structures, and provide valuable fundmental data for future urban planning, urban climate models and land use projections.

The low-temperature environment caused by solvent evaporation leads to the condensation of water vapor into water droplets that remain on the surface of the film to form breath figure patterns. The conventional approach to regulate the pore morphology in the breath figure process is to optimize the ambient temperature, humidity, and solution concentration. However, realizing a wide adjustable window of pore size and uniform distribution of the pore are still challenges. Here, inspired by the rainfall phenomenon, we proposed a simple and efficient method called the “raining boxing method” (RBM) for preparing porous films based on exogenously given water droplets as templates. The RBM broadened the adjustable window of pore size (0.6–225 µm in this work) and solved the inherent problem of radial reduction of pore size from the film center to the edge caused by the significant difference in low-temperature duration at different locations accompanying the solvent evaporation process. Furthermore, this method could realize multi-types porous films, including surface porous films, spongy porous films, and honeycomb porous films, and could be universally applied in the casting process of various polymer solutions.

Abstract Salmonellosis is a globally extensive food-borne disease, which threatens public health and results in huge economic losses in the world annually. The rising prevalence of antibiotic resistance in Salmonella poses a significant global concern, emphasizing an imperative to identify novel therapeutic agents or methodologies to effectively combat this predicament. In this study, self-assembly hydrogen sulfide (H2S)-responsive nanoprodrugs were fabricated with poly(α-lipoic acid)-polyethylene glycol grafted rhein and geraniol (PPRG), self-assembled into core–shell nanoparticles via electrostatic, hydrophilic and hydrophobic interactions, with hydrophilic exterior and hydrophobic interior. The rhein and geraniol are released from self-assembly nanoprodrugs PPRG in response to Salmonella infection, which is known to produce hydrogen sulfide (H2S). PPRG demonstrated stronger antibacterial activity against Salmonella compared with rhein or geraniol alone in vitro and in vivo. Additionally, PPRG was also able to suppress the inflammation and modulate gut microbiota homeostasis. In conclusion, the as-prepared self-assembly nanoprodrug sheds new light on the design of natural product active ingredients and provides new ideas for exploring targeted therapies for specific Enteropathogens. Graphical Abstract Graphical illustration for construction of self-assembly nanoprodrugs PPRG and its antibacterial and anti-inflammatory activities on experimental Salmonella infection in mice

Exopolysaccharides (EPSs) produced by microorganisms play an important role in biotolerance and reducing heavy metal (HM) contamination by limiting the migration of HMs into plants. However, research on the application of EPS-producing marine bacteria for soil heavy metal remediation remains limited, particularly regarding their mechanisms of HM immobilization in soil and impact on plant growth. In this study, the EPS-producing marine bacterium Micrococcus antarcticus HZ was investigated for its ability to immobilize Pb and produce EPSs in soil filtrate. The effects on the growth quality and biomass of pakchoi (Brassica chinensis L.), as well as bacterial communities in inter-root soil contaminated with Pb, were also investigated. The results indicated that HZ could reduce the Pb concentration in the soil filtrate, achieving a removal rate of 43.25–63.5%. The EPS content and pH levels increased in the presence of Pb. Pot experiments showed that adding HZ significantly increased the biomass of pakchoi (9.45–14.69%), vitamin C (Vc) (9.69–12.92%), and soluble protein content (22.58–49.7%). HZ reduced the Pb content in the roots (17.52–47.48%) and leaves (edible tissues) (43.82–52.83%) of pakchoi. HZ increased soil enzyme activities (alkaline phosphatase, dehydrogenase, and urease), and the contents of ammonium nitrogen and nitrate nitrogen. Additionally, HZ also increased the relative abundance of beneficial bacteria (e.g., Proteobacteria, Cyanobacteria, and Chlorobacteria) in the inter-root soil, which have prophylactic and heavy-metal fixation functions. In summary, HZ reduces effective Pb content in edible tissues, roots, and inter-root soil by regulating inter-root soil microbial community structure, increasing soil pH, nitrogen content, and soil enzyme activity, and altering dominant phylum abundance.

To enhance the performance of rigid coaxial rotors across both hovering and high-speed cruising conditions, this study develops a novel aerodynamic optimization method that differentiates between the upper and lower rotors. Utilizing the lifting line and reformulated viscous vortex particle method (rVPM), this approach models the complex wake fields of coaxial rotors and accurately assesses the aerodynamic loads on the blades. The optimization of geometric properties such as planform configuration and nonlinear twist is conducted through an innovative solver that integrates simulated annealing with the Nelder–Mead algorithm, ensuring both rapid and comprehensive optimization results. Comparative analyses demonstrate that these tailored geometric adjustments significantly enhance efficiency in both operational states, surpassing traditional methods. This research provides a strategic framework for addressing the varied aerodynamic challenges presented by different flight states in coaxial rotor design.

As an important piece of equipment for hydrogen energy application, the hydrogen internal combustion engine is helpful for the realization of zero carbon emissions, where the aluminum connecting rod is one of the key core components. A semi-solid forging forming process for the 7075 aluminum alloy connecting rod is proposed in this work. The influence of process parameters, such as the forging ratio, sustaining temperature, and duration time, on the microstructures of the semi-solid blank is experimentally investigated. The macroscopic morphology, metallographic structure, and physical properties of the connecting-rod parts are analyzed. Reasonable process parameters for preparing the semi-solid blank are obtained from the experimental results. Under the reasonable parameters, the average grain size is 41.48~42.57 μm, and the average shape factor is 0.80~0.81. The yield strength and tensile strength improvement ratio of the connecting rod produced by the proposed process are 47.07% and 20.89%, respectively.

【Objective】The pathogenicity and genomic differences between two Ralstonia solanacearum strains were compared to analyze the key genes leading to the differences, and help the control of tobacco bacterial wilt disease in the future.【Method】Different R. solanacearum strains were isolated and purified from tobacco plants infected with bacterial wilt disease. The infestation tests were conducted to compare pathogenicity differences and the genomes of two strains were obtained by high-throughput sequencing technique to analyze the sequence difference, to explore the key genes affecting the pathogenicity of the strains.【Result】Two strains RsTP2 and RsTY2 were isolated from diseased tobacco plants in Guangchang county and Nanfeng county of Fuzhou, Jiangxi Province. egl gene sequencing results revealed that both strains were sequevar 13 belonged to Asian phylotype I. The infestation test results indicated that strain RsTP2 was more aggressive to Yunyan87 tobacco plants, in contrast to less pathogenicity of strain RsTY2. Draft genome maps of strains RsTP2 and RsTY2 (5.43 MB and 5.23 MB, respectively) were obtained by high-throughput sequencing technique. Then, the gene and protein sequences were compared with relevant databases to obtain gene function and species annotation information. Through analysis, it was found that 52 proteins of RsTY2 and 44 proteins of RsTP2 were different in the alignment with similarity between 50% and 99.88%. Most of the differential proteins were lectin-like protein, followed by cytolysin secretory activator protein and perforin family protein【Conclusion】By comparing the genomic sequences of strains RsTP2 and RsTY2 with different pathogenicity, it was found that there were significant differences in the coding sequences of lectin-like protein, cytolysin secretory activator protein and perforin family protein. These proteins mainly participated in bacterial adhesion, membrane lysis and penetration, and other functions, which were closely related to the ability of bacteria to invade host cells. The differences in these types of coding proteins are speculated to be one of the important factors leading to the differences in pathogenicity in strains RsTP2 and RsTY2.

Abstract Although the biophysical effects of afforestation or deforestation on local climate are recognized, the biophysical consequences of seasonal and long-term dynamics in forests on understory microclimate, which creates microrefugia for forest organisms under global warming, remain less well understood. To fill this research gap, we combined a three-layered (i.e., canopy, forest air space and understory soil) land surface energy balance model and Intrinsic Biophysical Mechanism Model and quantify seasonal (warm minus cool seasons) and long-term changes (later minus former periods) in the biophysical effects of forest dynamics on understory air temperature (ΔT a) and soil surface temperature (ΔT s). We found that high latitudes forests show strongest negative seasonal variations in both ΔT a and ΔT s, followed by moderate latitudes forests. In contrast, low latitudes forests exhibit positive seasonal variations in ΔT a and weak negative seasonal variations in ΔT s. For the long-term variations, ΔT s increases systematically at all three latitudes. However, the situation differs greatly for ΔT s, with a weak increase at low and moderate latitudes, but a slight decrease at high latitudes. Overall, changes in sensible and latent heat fluxes induced by forest dynamics (such as leaf area index), by altering the aerodynamic resistances of canopy and soil surface layers, are the main factors driving changes in forest microclimate effects. In addition, this study also develops an aerodynamic resistance coefficient $${f}_{{\rm{r}}}^{1}$$ f r 1 to combine the air temperature effects and surface soil temperature effects and proposes an indicator – ΔT Su, that is, $$\Delta {T}_{{\rm{Su}}}=\Delta {T}_{{\rm{s}}}+(\frac{1}{{f}_{{\rm{r}}}^{1}}-1)\Delta {T}_{{\rm{a}}}$$ Δ T Su = Δ T s + ( 1 f r 1 − 1 ) Δ T a , as a possible benchmark for evaluating the total biophysical effects of forests on temperatures.

This study presents an innovative pulse-rotating biological contactor (P-RBC) designed to enrich glycogen-accumulating organisms (GAOs), thereby facilitating low-energy chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal. It then investigates the impact of rotational speed and hydraulic retention time (HRT) on GAO enrichment and COD removal efficiency. Optimized conditions at lower speeds and longer HRTs significantly enhance GAO proliferation and Polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) synthesis, the key to COD removal. Noteworthy findings include a maximum GAO abundance of 21.34% at a half round per hour (rph) rotating speed, which correlates with a 90.2% COD removal rate and an HRT of 6 h, yielding a 21.23% GAO abundance and 89.8% COD removal. This study also explores various carbon sources for PHA synthesis, with sodium acetate proving the most effective. Compared to other wastewater treatment methods, P-RBC demonstrates minimal energy consumption (0.09 kWh per ton of wastewater), highlighting its potential as a sustainable and effective approach for wastewater treatment.

In this paper, the influence of interlayer on titanium/steel dissimilar metal resistance spot welding is reviewed from the aspects of macroscopic characteristics, microstructure and interface bonding properties of the joint. Previous studies have demonstrated that TiC, FeTi and Fe2Ti intermetallic compounds with high brittleness are formed in the joint during titanium/steel welding, which reduces the strength of the welded joint. Researchers proposed different interlayer materials, including Cu, Ni, Nb, Ta, 60%Ni-Cu alloy and BAg45CuZn. Firstly, adding an interlayer can weaken the diffusion of Fe and Ti. Secondly, the interlayer elements can combine with Fe or Ti to form solid solutions or intermetallic compounds with lower brittleness than Fe–Ti compounds. Finally, Cu, Ni, Ag, etc. with excellent ductility can effectively decrease the generation of internal stress, which reduces the formation of defects to improve the strength of the joint.

When the wind speed is above the rated value, the output power of the wind turbine should be maintained at the rated value in order to prevent the power generation system from overheating. In addition, the natural wind speed will fluctuate randomly in a large range of values, making the traditional control effect not ideal. This paper presents a novel H-infinity (H∞) pitch control strategy for Wind Turbine Generators (WTGs), which can make the rotor speed and output power constant when the wind speed changes in a large range. In order to shorten response time and reduce overshoot, in the specific solution, the control method combines the H∞ theory and the Takagi-Sugeno (T-S) fuzzy theory. Firstly, the linearized models of several operating points were obtained with the T-S fuzzy theory. Then, a robust controller was designed for each linear sub-system based on the H∞ control theory. Furthermore, the controllers of the sub-systems were superimposed into a global controller for the entire system through the membership function. Finally, modeling and simulation were carried out in MATLAB/SIMULINK. The simulation results show that when the wind speed changes above the rated speed, the rotor speed can be maintained at the rated value, and the output power also can be maintained at the rated value. Compared with the optimal control, the response speed of this method is faster and the overshoot is smaller. It provides a new idea for the pitch angle control of wind turbine.

Abstract Purpose This study mainly exams a novel treatment for infective segmental femoral defect, and we combined the 3D printed porous tantalum prosthesis and Masquelet’s induce membrane technique to reconstruct bone defect and discussed the clinical effect. Method The clinical research included 9 observational cases series, as a permanently implantation, the customized 3D-printed scaffolds that connected with an anatomical plate was implanted into the bone defect segment after successful formation of induced membrane, the clinical effect was evaluated by radiological exams and Paley’s bone union criteria. Result The personalized 3D-printed porous tantalum was, respectively, manufactured and used in 9 consecutive patients to reconstruct the infective segmental bone defect of femur, the mean defect length was 16.1 ± 2.8 cm, the mean length of follow-up was 16.9 ± 4.0 months, after 2 stage operation, there was no deep infections, refractures, sensorimotor disorder, vascular injury, ankylosis and recurrence of infection occurred in all cases. postoperative radiological exams shown stable internal fixation and osseointegration, and all these results were invariable during the follow-up time in all cases. All patients significantly obtained deformity correction and length of limb. Conclusion The customized 3D-printed porous tantalum prosthesis was an acceptable alternative treatment to the autogenous or allograft bone graft, the combination of the two techniques could achieve satisfactory reconstruct to infective broad bone defect in femur when other biological techniques were not suitable.

Accumulating interest from academia and industry, the part of quality assurance in metal additive manufacturing (AM) is achieving incremental recognition owing to its distinct advantages over conventional manufacturing methods. In this paper, we introduced a convolutional neural network, YOLOv8 approach toward robust metallographic image quality inspection. Metallographic images accommodate key information relating to metal properties, such as structural strength, ductility, toughness, and defects, which are employed to select suitable materials for multiple engineering execution. Therefore, by comprehending the microstructures, one can understand insights into the behavior of a metal component and make predictive assessments of failure under specific conditions. Deep learning-based image segmentation is a robust technique for the detection of microstructural defects like cracks, inclusion, and gas porosity. Therefore, we improvise the YOLOv8 with dilated convolution mechanisms to acquire automatic micro-structure defect characterization. More specifically, for the first time, the YOLOv8 algorithm was proposed in the metallography dataset from additive manufacturing of steels (Metal DAM) to identify defects like cracks and porosity as a novel approach. A total of 414 images from ArcelorMittal engineers were used as an open-access database. The experimental results demonstrated that the YOLOv8 model successfully detected and identified cracks and porosity in the metal AM dataset, achieving an improved defect detection accuracy of up to 96% within just 0.5 h compared to previous automatic defect recognition processes.

Abstract Epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) can play an important role in the occurrence and development of atrial fibrillation and stroke. In this study, we explored the relationship between left atrial epicardial adipose tissue (LA-EAT) and left atrial appendage flow velocity (LAA-FV) in patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (NV-AF). A total of 145 patients with NV-AF who underwent their first radiofrequency ablation were enrolled. They underwent left aortopulmonary vein computed tomography angiography (CTA) and transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) before AF ablation. Left atrial (LA) electroanatomical mapping was performed intraoperatively to assess left atrial voltage. Univariate regression analysis showed that LAA-FV was lower in patients with a low voltage zone (LAA-FV; 35.02 ± 10.78 cm/s vs. 50.60 ± 12.17 cm/s, P

IntroductionThe continuous application of cow manure in soil for many years leads to the accumulation of heavy metals, pathogenic microorganisms, and antibiotic resistance genes. Therefore, in recent years, cow manure has often been mixed with botanical oil meal as organic fertilizer applied to farmland to improve soil and crop quality. However, the effects of various botanical oil meal and cow manure mixed organic fertilizers on soil microbial composition, community structure, and function, tobacco yield, and quality remain unclear.MethodsTherefore, we prepared organic manure via solid fermentation by mixing cow manure with different oil meals (soybean meal, rape meal, peanut bran, sesame meal). Then, we studied its effects on soil microbial community structure and function, physicochemical properties, enzyme activities, tobacco yield and quality; then we analyzed the correlations between these factors.Results and discussionCompared with cow manure alone, the four kinds of mixed botanical oil meal and cow manure improved the yield and quality of flue-cured tobacco to different degrees. Peanut bran, which significantly improved the soil available phosphorus, available potassium, and NO3–-N, was the best addition. Compared with cow manure alone, soil fungal diversity was significantly decreased when rape meal or peanut bran was combined with cow manure, while soil bacterial and fungal abundance was significantly increased when rape meal was added compared with soybean meal or peanut bran. The addition of different botanical oil meals significantly enriched the subgroup_7 and Spingomonas bacteria and Chaetomium and Penicillium fungi in the soil. The relative abundances of functional genes of xenobiotics biodegradation and metabolism, soil endophytic fungi, and wood saprotroph functional groups increased. In addition, alkaline phosphatase had the greatest effect on soil microorganisms, while NO3–-N had the least effect on soil microorganisms. In conclusion, the mixed application of cow manure and botanical oil meal increased the available phosphorus and potassium contents in soil; enriched beneficial microorganisms; promoted the metabolic function of soil microorganisms; increased the yield and quality of tobacco; and improved the soil microecology.

The present study sought to explore the deformation and fracture behavior of Quenching and Partitioning (Q&P) steel at five different strain rates (10−4 s−1, 1 s−1, 10 s−1, 100 s−1 and 1400 s−1). Tensile tests were carried out on Q&P steel at different strain rates, and the deformation and fracture behaviors were explored through digital image correlation (DIC) and scanning electron microscope (SEM). The results indicated that the strength and plasticity of Q&P steel had significant strain rate sensitivity. The yield strength and ultimate strength increases continuously, whereas the elongation first decreased and then increased with increase in strain rate. The dimples gradually became smaller and flatter with increase in strain rate. The dislocation density increased when strain rate was above 100 s−1, indicating that resistance to dislocation slip increases and the slip distance becomes shorter at high strain rates, which inhibits generation of large deformation. The local plastic strain at the fracture significantly decreased from 0.7 to 0.3, resulting in partial brittle fracture characteristics in fracture morphology. These findings provide a basis for further elucidating the deformability and fracture behavior of Q&P steel at different strain rates.

Abstract High-pressure, high-temperature fractured shale reservoirs are types of unconventional reservoirs that need proper drilling operations for adequate efficiency. Proper measurement of drilling fluid’s rheological properties is of importance for drilling operations that may increase the penetration rate on the one hand with proper design. Therefore, the success of drilling operations strongly depends on the proper design of drilling fluids. In this paper, we experimentally investigated the effect of potassium and sodium formate fluid on the rheological properties of drilling fluid for fractured shale core samples. The yield point and apparent viscosity for muds consisted of cellulose polyanionic and cellulose polyanionic-ultralow polymers higher than base muds. It indicates the effect of formate salts in increasing thermal stability. In addition, in polymer-based muds, more amounts of formate salts have been used, indicating the low fluid loss volume. Consequently, the shale recovery rate for potassium formate fluids is higher than sodium formate fluid.

Abstract Background Present work was aimed to gather accessible evidence on the eradication rates and related postoperative complications of antibiotic-loaded calcium sulfate (CS) as an implant in the treatment of chronic osteomyelitis (COM). Methods Databases including PubMed, EMBASE, Medline, Ovid and Cochrane library were searched from their dates of initiation until November 2021. Two independent authors scrutinized the relevant studies based on the effectiveness of radical debridement combined with antibiotic-loaded CS for COM; data extraction and quality assessment of the Methodological Index for Non-Randomized Studies (MINORS) criteria were also performed by the authors. In addition, clinical efficacy mainly depended on the evaluation of eradication rates and complications, and all the extracted data are pooled and analyzed by STATA 16.0. Results A total of 16 studies with 917 patients (920 locations) were recruited, with an overall eradication rate of 92%. Moreover, the overall reoperation rate, overall refracture rate, overall delayed wound healing rate, and the rate of aseptic wound leakage were 9.0%, 2.0%, 20.0%, and 12.0%, respectively. Moreover, the choice of tobramycin-loaded CS or vancomycin combined with gentamicin-loaded CS did not affect the eradication rate, and the incidence of postoperative complications in COM patients (all $$P>0.05$$ P > 0.05 ). The general quality of the included studies was fair. Conclusions Our meta-analysis indicated that the overall eradication rate of COM treated with antibiotic-loaded CS was 92%. Delayed healing is the most common postoperative complication. The choice of tobramycin-loaded CS or vancomycin combined with gentamicin-loaded CS did not affect the eradication rate and the incidence of postoperative complications in COM patients.

Abstract On the surface and grain boundary of perovskite films there are large quantities defects, which leads to photogenerated carrier nonradiative recombination and degrades the performance of the perovskite solar cells (PSCs). Surface passivation can suppress the detrimental effects of defect and improve the performance of PSCs. Here, an organic molecule, 4‐chloro‐1,8‐naphthalic anhydride (ALS), is adopted to passivate the defects on the surface and grain boundary of (FAPbI3)0.95(MAPbBr3)0.05 perovskite films. The oxygen of carbonyl group in the ALS provides lone pair electron to the undercoordinated Pb2+ and passivated this defect. The ALS passivated perovskite films have lower trap state density and longer carrier lifetime. As a result, the photoelectric conversion efficiency (PCE) of the PSCs was improved from 21.52% to 23.72%. Furthermore, the ALS passivated PSC show good stability, and it could maintain 88% of its initial efficiency after 1200 h storage in ambient atmosphere without encapsulation.

Abstract Background Thromboembolic events are the most serious complication of atrial fibrillation (AF), and the left atrial appendage (LAA) is the most important site of thrombosis in patients with AF. During the period of COVID-19, a non-invasive left atrial appendage detection method is particularly important in order to reduce the exposure of the virus. This study used CT three-dimensional reconstruction methods to explore the relationship between LAA morphology, LAA orifice area and its mechanical function in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF). Methods A total of 81 consecutive patients with NVAF (36 cases of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation and 45 cases of persistent atrial fibrillation) who were planned to undergo catheter radiofrequency ablation were enrolled. All patients were examined by transthoracic echocardiography (TTE), TEE, and computed tomography angiography (CTA) before surgery. The LAA orifice area was obtained according to the images of CTA. According to the left atrial appendage morphology, it was divided into chicken wing type and non-chicken wing type. At the same time, TEE was performed to determine left atrial appendage flow velocity (LAAFV), and the relationship between the left atrial appendage orifice area and LAAFV was analyzed. Results The LAAFV in Non-chicken wing group was lower than that in Chicken wing group (36.2 ± 15.0 cm/s vs. 49.1 ± 22.0 cm/s, p-value

Abstract To understand the characteristic of changes of serum metabolites between healthy people and patients with hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection at different stages of disease, and to provide reference metabolomics information for clinical diagnosis of liver disease patients. 255 patients with different stages of HBV infection were selected. 3 mL blood was collected from each patient in the morning to detect differences in serum lysophosphatidylcholine, acetyl-l-carnitine, oleic acid amide, and glycocholic acid concentrations by UFLC-IT-TOF/MS. The diagnostic values of four metabolic substances were evaluated by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. The results showed that the optimal cut-off value of oleic acid amide concentration of the liver cirrhosis and HCC groups was 23.6 mg/L, with a diagnostic sensitivity of 88.9% and specificity of 70.6%. The diagnostic efficacies of the three substances were similar in the hepatitis and HCC groups, with an optimal cut-off value of 2.04 mg/L, and a diagnostic sensitivity and specificity of 100% and 47.2%, respectively. The optimal cut-off value of lecithin of the HBV-carrier and HCC groups was 132.85 mg/L, with a diagnostic sensitivity and specificity of 88.9% and 66.7%, respectively. The optimal cut-off value of oleic acid amide of the healthy and HCC groups was 129.03 mg/L, with a diagnostic sensitivity and specificity of 88.4% and 83.3%, respectively. Lysophosphatidylcholine, acetyl-l-carnitine, and oleic acid amide were potential metabolic markers of HCC. Among them, lysophosphatidylcholine was low in the blood of HCC patients, and its diagnostic efficacy was better than that of acetyl-l-carnitine and oleic acid amide, providing reference metabolomics information in clinical diagnosis and future research.

ObjectiveEpicardial adipose tissue (EAT) is related to atrial fibrillation (AF), but the specific mechanism is still unclear. Left atrial (LA) low voltage zones (LVZ) can well reflect atrial fibrosis. This study investigated the relationship between EAT and LVZ in non-valvular AF (NVAF) patients.MethodsThis observational study including patients with NVAF (n = 214) undergoing radiofrequency ablation (RFCA) for the first time in our hospital and 62 matched controls. The EAT volume and attenuation were measured by contrast-enhanced computed tomography. A three-dimensional mapping system was used to map the left atrial endocardium and evaluate LA-LVZ. Patients were divided into LVZ and non-LVZ groups according to the presence or absence of LVZ.ResultsPatients with AF showed higher LA-EAT volume and lower attenuation value than controls (29.7 ± 11.2 cm3 vs. 20.9 ± 8.6 cm3, P = 0.021; −91.2 ± 5.6 HU vs. −88.7 ± 5.9 HU, P < 0.001). Compared with the group without LVZ, there were significant differences in age [65 (59–71) vs. 60 (52–69), P = 0.006], LAVI [75.1 ± 20.7 ml/m2 vs. 67.2 ± 20.9 ml/m2, P = 0.018], LA-EAT volume (34.8 ± 11.5 cm3 vs. 28.1 ± 10.6 cm3, P < 0.001) and LA-EAT attenuation (−93.9 ± 5.3 HU vs. −90.4 ± 5.5 HU, P < 0.001). Multivariate regression analysis showed that age (OR = 1.040; 95%CI: 1.001–1.078, P = 0.042), LAVI (OR = 1.019; 95%CI: 1.002–1.037, P = 0.032), LA-EAT volume (OR = 1.193; 95%CI: 1.015–1.402, P = 0.034) and attenuation value (OR = 0.801; 95%CI: 0.701–0.916 P = 0.001) were independent predictors of LVZ. After LA-EAT attenuation was incorporated into the clinical model, the comprehensive discrimination and net reclassification tended to improve (IDI and NRI > 0, P < 0.05).ConclusionLA-EAT volume and attenuation values can independently predict the presence of LVZ, and LA-EAT attenuation has a better predictive value than LA-EAT volume.